Trumbo continues push to play third for the Angels

Eleven games into the Angels season, Mark Trumbo, Alberto Callaspo and Maicer Izturis know the drill: They show up at the ballpark, check the starting lineup pinned by the clubhouse entrance, lock in on who's playing third base and elsewhere, then deal.

They don't discuss among themselves who's in or out. They haven't talked to Manager Mike Scioscia about it. And the great unspoken battle for playing time at third continues.

“Going into the season, I knew I probably wouldn't be playing every day, and that's exactly what's playing out,” said Trumbo, who has struggled in his transition to third base and found himself on the bench for already half of this young season.

“I don't have any resentment or anything, but that's the way it's working.”

For Tuesday against Oakland, it was Callaspo starting his sixth game at third and trying to break out of a 2-for-19 slump (.102). He went 2 for 4 in the 5-3 loss and remains error-free on duty in the hot corner.

Out of the lineup were Izturis, coming off two consecutive flawless starts at third and a .462 batting average, and Trumbo, hitting .375 but having committed three errors in his 12 chances at third (.625 fielding percentage).

“I come in every day with my mind on playing and then I just check the lineup,” Izturis said. “I've been in this role for a couple years now and it's not anything I can control.”

Trumbo -- the 2011 AL rookie of the year runner-up who played in 149 games last season, starting 143 at first base and leading the Angels in home runs (29) and RBI (87) – has started in five of the first 11 games: three at third, two as a designated hitter.

Displaced from first by the arrival of Albert Pujols, Trumbo worked to make himself versatile defensively, developing at third this spring while staying sharp at first base and both corner outfield positions.

“There are five options (to make the lineup), but, then again, you look up and down our roster and we have a ton of talent,” Trumbo said. “So there's not a whole lot of room to work with. I understand that.”

Before Tuesday's game, Trumbo had an intense workout at third base supervised by Scioscia, bench coach Rob Picciolo and first base coach Alfredo Griffin. Trumbo worked on glove angle and positioning, and both Trumbo and Scioscia reported progress from the session.

“It's all on me,…” Trumbo said. “If I'm putting in the work and making the plays, I think everyone is going to be comfortable putting me out there. If I'm struggling, there's no hard feelings.”

Trumbo maintains his confidence despite the errors at third: the bad throw and the dropped foul pop in the season opener and a fielding error in his second game.

“He is trying to adjust a couple things as he approaches the ball, (finding) a comfort level of adjusting his glove as he approaches the ball,” Scioscia said. “He was doing it in the spring and he just hasn't found that same comfort level now.”

Izturis said that Trumbo has been receptive to advice: “I tell him, because he's in his first year there, to go out there and play and not think too much, not have too much in your mind.”

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.